Introduction to the Psalm and Psalm 1

 December 6, 2021

 

Introduction to the Psalm

And

Psalm 1

 

 

The word for psalms in Hebrew is "Tehilim," which means “praise.”  Praise directed to Yahweh, the God of Israel, is certainly the primary emphasis in the psalms.  (taken from the HCSB)  Timothy Keller had this to say about the Psalms “Every situation in life is represented in the book of Psalms.  Psalms anticipate and train you for every possible spiritual, social, and emotional you condition-they show you what the dangers are, what you should keep in mind, what your attitude should be, how to talk to God about it, and how to get from God the help you need.”

Note: Jan and I were given the book “The Songs of Jesus” on 12-24-2021”  Jan read to me in the introduction the quote from Timothy Keller.

 

 

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.  The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away.  Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.  

 

What is the counsel of the wicked?   It was 11:45 pm and I woke up and remembered, I had planned to work on that question and other parts of this Psalm and let TV and other things like cutting brush down the hill distract me.  So let me share my thoughts on the question above.  It could be listening to worldly councils, like getting your values from the local rag (newspaper) or from the internet, social media, New York Times, CNN, are any of the other so call news TV outlets, they are more into propaganda than the news.  It could be you set your mind on earthly things and not look to the Scripture for your council on living life on planet earth.  Today it is not so much hanging out with evil people, but allowing the world system to mole you into its thinking.  Are you standing in the way of sinners by not standing for the righteousness of a Holy God?  It is in fashion to keep your Biblical views to yourself while the God-haters push their agenda of evil, such as killing 62 million-plus babies, and homosexual lifestyles on you and your family.  The TV once upon a time was to entertain, but not today it is to push evil into your minds.  And the goal is to keep you quiet, to make you doubt but those who study to show themselves a workman that need not to be ashamed, will delight in the ways of God, and keep His commands.

 

The Psalmist tells us his delight is in the Word of God, he meditates on it day and night.  Such a person is going to flourish just like a tree by a stream of water.  Today as I cut brush, I noticed an oak tree that was growing in the middle of our creek that often is without water, but that tree is growing faster than the others in rocky soil.  The Scripture talks a lot about fruit and the world is watching your life and mind to see what kind of fruit your life produces.  Are you a lover of God only on Sunday?   Do you live out your faith in all you come in contact with?  While I was cutting brush today I was under a full attack with thoughts about a crazy guy, I never met, but who came onto my neighbor's property and began cursing and throwing rocks at the men who were cutting cedars on his land.  I was battling what I would say and do if he did that to me, and the Spirit spoke to me and said that was not what Jesus would do.  Yes, I’m fearful I’ve allowed the counsel of the wicked to do a number on me, but God has overcome the world and His Spirit lives in me, I just need to be on guard for what I call channel One the deceptive voice of the devil that comes to me when I'm not on guard.  His message has not changed, like did God really say that you deserve, you can be like God, or you are a never was, and the world would be a better place without you.  Those are lies from the devil.

 

Now if you claim to be a follower of Christ and are ok with anything that God has called evil, you got your ladder on the wrong wall, and you need to read and apply 2 Corinthians 13:5 to your life.  “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice